i have had the same dilemma....been planning on doing alaska for my 50th birthday...with great deliberation have chosen to do a balcony on may 31, 2002 on the legend of the seas...this is my 14th cruise and first time balcony...i to have always gone the most reasonable way and hoped for an upgrade...but like they say you only live once and i dont suppose i will be able to return to alaska again...have a great trip...